“The government is reviewing its immigration policies, and could make simple changes that would give people the certainty and security they need to build a better future for themselves and their families.”
By the No Recourse to Public Funds Action Group
People that come to the UK hoping for safety and security, and a fresh start for their lives and children; but unfortunately, the Home Office’s cruel immigration policies have hindered people who had often been in the UK for decades and regard the UK home. We are overwhelmed with a sad reality check of how atrocious the immigration system really is.
Many of these migrants are part and parcel of their communities, with transferrable skills that would benefit not just their lives, families and loved ones, but most especially communities at large.
But the government has chosen to create a system that limits migrants’ independence and self-sufficiency which pushes people into desperate situations, and completely undermines their ability to integrate.
What’s more, not only has the government created a system that is hugely bureaucratic and challenging to navigate for those trapped within it, it also generates an enormous amount of administrative work for the Home Office, which is already struggling to cope.
It is clearly obvious that the government has the power to make simple policy changes that would benefit those who are affected, their families and communities, and wider society.
Innate in us all as part of human nature, we all want to be able to stand on our two feet, look after ourselves and our loved ones. We all want to feel like we belong. And we all want to know that we can stay in our homes, close to our families and with our children. To do this, we need a sense of safety and security.
But many of us are denied any sense of security by the cruel immigration system that demands we go through a complicated and stressful visa application process again and again for 10, 20 or even 30 years, even though our lives and future are in the UK. Home Office delays means many of us are left waiting for months on end for the visa documents needed to work and keep living in our homes. As a result, we struggle to earn enough to live on or to rent a safe place for us and our families. This stops us from building our future and feeling like we belong – all because of the government hostile environment policies.
The impact of this leaves many of us struggling to make ends meet, even if we’ve lived in the UK for a long time, or our children have lived here all their lives. Many of us often juggling multiple jobs and working long hours. Home Office delays mean many of us are left waiting for months on end for the vital documents needed to work and keep living in our homes. So some of us are unable to work but expected to stump up thousands of pounds in visa fees every few years, which often forces many into debt. Without a safe place to live, we are often forced to move frequently or live in unsafe housing, causing stress, disruption and poor mental health for us and our children.
It’s a system that ultimately pushes many of us into deep poverty, leaving us vulnerable to exploitation and our children exposed to poverty, which we know could have a long-life impact. And as the cost of living rises, more and more of us will end up in desperate situation as a direct result of this broken immigration system. The impact of which affects our children in their education and wellbeing.
It really doesn’t have to be this way. Right now, the government is reviewing its immigration policies, and could make simple changes that would give people the certainty and security they need to build a better future for themselves and their families.
As a solution, we are calling for the government to change the rules so that parents with a child or children here can stay in the UK permanently after 5 years, instead of 10. And we are also asking that those of us who have already been here for decades aren’t expected to wait another decade for security and safety.
By allowing us to belong, these changes would also bring wider benefits to our communities. These are important steps on the way to a world where all children and adults making their lives in the UK can feel safe and secure!
Please help us to Stop The Waiting. Join the campaign so we can live our lives.
- Add your support to the Stop The Waiting campaign to ensure everyone making their lives in the UK can feel safe, secure and like they belong.
- You can find out more about the No Recourse to Public Funds Action Group here. Please follow Praxis, for Migrants and Refugees for more information on the campaign on Facebook and twitter.
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I am a victim of no recourse to public fund, a single mother of 15yrs. I am depressed,,developed anxiety. I have lived 20yrs in this country I still renewed every 30 months, I have to use my credit card to pay home office, I don’t find paying before another one 30 months. I move homes with my daughter, we are forced to live with strangers because I couldn’t afford to rent 0ne bedroom. I cry everyday, I feel that my daughter is treated unfairly, she was born In the uk in 2007, I live for her. My mental health is affected, joints pains because I slept on the floor during the trial time. Home office changed the nrpf last year during the covid , unity project supported me to send it to them. I renewed again this year, I paid 4 thousand pounds to renewed on express because I wanted to keep my job. It came back with no recourse to public fund again, and I explained that I am In temporary accommodation with my daughter, they don’t have any sympathy. I work with the NHS, I worked through the pandemic, risked my life as a single mother. I was tested positive last year, I nearly died, who would have to look after my daughter. But God saved me. I am calling on home office to change the policy. Some families send up to 15 thousand to renew, people have developed a lot of illness,,blood pressure and many. Every children life matters.